Jazz master Chucho Valdés birthday celebration opens concert series Oct. 23

The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series (DMCCS) at Cornell University begins its 2026-27 season with Chucho Valdés's 85th Birthday Celebration, featuring special guests Joe Lovano and Etienne Charles, on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Bailey Hall on the Cornell campus.

Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Chucho Valdés, one of the foremost architects of modern Afro-Cuban jazz, was named a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master. According to the NEA, the prestigious designation honors "a select number of living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz." The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship is the nation's highest honor for jazz artists, recognizing individuals whose artistry and influence have shaped the course of the genre.

The distinction adds to an extraordinary six-decade career that has earned Valdés seven GRAMMY Awards®, six Latin GRAMMY Awards®, the Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated and influential figures in contemporary jazz.

Joining Valdés on Oct. 23 are acclaimed saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Etienne Charles.

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.